Meizu M8 finally launching in August?

The saga of the Meizu M8 is one of the more entertaining dramas in the phone biz these days, owing partly to the endless delays and tweaks, granted -- but owing much more to the truly masterful ripping of the iPhone's industrial design. Unfortunately, there's been very little actual bite to follow up the bark coming out of the Meizu camp, and it looks like we might get a real taste of this thing for the first time as soon as next month. A post on Meizu's website, seemingly from none other than CEO J. Wong himself, claims that a first cut of the M8 will arrive next month -- along with plenty more pictures and details -- but it'll be a somewhat neutered rendition that features just 128MB of RAM and zero flash. October will bring the real deal, a 256MB baddie that rocks 8GB of storage for 2180 yuan, which works out to about $320. Meanwhile, pictures have surfaced of the latest prototype floating around Meizu's labs, looking both as slick and as litigation-prone as ever. Bring these stateside, Mr. Wong, and we'll be the very first to sign up -- just don't be surprised if Apple is right behind us.

[Via Electronista]

Read - August for 128MB model, October for 256MB / 8GB?
Read - Prototype M8 in the wild

[RedJediUK @ Jul 16th 2008 6:36PM]

No 3G, which is why I left this out in the cold and went for an iPhone 3G.

I bet it will blend though...

[Nohone @ Jul 16th 2008 7:02PM]

When the first iPhone was released, many people said they would not get it because it did not have 3G. The response from the Apple boys here on Engadget was that they did not want 3G, it would kill the battery, it did not give that much of a boost in speed, it was not available in all areas.

Just over the past few days I have read on Engadget comments: I can't live without 3G, just turn off 3G when you do not need it to save battery, 3G is so fast, 3G is available everywhere I went.

Just more of the same "We don't need it untill Steve Jobs tells us we need it"

[fred @ Jul 16th 2008 7:08PM]

The new thing is that copy & paste are no big deal.

Something tells me this will have that...

[RedJediUK @ Jul 16th 2008 7:55PM]

I was thinking that over time battery technology would improve and slowly it has. That was the main driver behind "accepting" 3G on the iPhone for me.

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 16th 2008 8:19PM]

@ RedJediUK: Actually, M8 doesn't only have 3G, but also 3.5G (Double the freakin speed), and available in all areas in my country. :)

http://www.meizume.com/minione-m8/888-meizu-mini-one-m8-specifications.html

@ fred: lol, Amen to that... Well, lets not forget video recording, which will suddenly be important as soon as Jobs decides to, along with front camera & user replaceable battery, you know, "things we can't live without. Jobs 2010".

[Flashpoint @ Jul 16th 2008 10:52PM]

But, can it run Mobileme?

[Nohone @ Jul 17th 2008 2:01AM]

@Flashpoint

But, does the iPhone, Mac, Windows, or anybody else without problems?

[Argot @ Jul 17th 2008 5:04AM]

@Nohone: But it's kind of cool to watch the reality distortion field in effect isn't it? :)

[neofolklore @ Jul 17th 2008 8:21AM]

@Saad

that forum is preliminary specs from 03-04-2007 . show me something official, we've had two generations of the iphone without official video recording, and we all expected it would be able to do that at least, so these preliminary specs for a knockoff phone aren't pushin it for me


albeit they LOOK nice, 3.5g , 3mp camera in the back for taking pictures and VGA cam in the front for video conferencing

[Harbinger @ Jul 17th 2008 3:10PM]

"When the first iPhone was released, many people said they would not get it because it did not have 3G. The response from the Apple boys here on Engadget was that they did not want 3G, it would kill the battery, it did not give that much of a boost in speed, it was not available in all areas."

Goes both ways, the haters said they'd get it if it had 3G and an SDK. People change their minds all the time. So what's your point?

[RedJediUK @ Jul 19th 2008 6:54PM]

OK, let me see if I can put this into perspective.

Yes I did see the specs.

Those specs on MeizuMe.com by Err0r state that a future version of the Mini One will have 3G/3.5G. It also says at the bottom of the specs

"Gray text = Features not included in initial release."

When I said no 3G on my first message, I meant on the first one they will release.

Meizu do make great quality products but by not including 3G WAY back when it was first announced Meizu dropped the ball. Many of those prospective purchasers got tired of waiting and went off and purchased something else.

If the M8 with its full current specs (3G, multitouch, 0.3 camera) had been released in the UK before the iPhone 3G then I would have bought one, but it wasn't.

The iPhone 3G does all I need. If people want to hold out for 3G version of the M8 then fair play to them. I hope it gives them what they have waited for.

[SuperSexyErik @ Jul 16th 2008 6:42PM]

Everyone wants to copy apple's succesful iPhone

[matthew @ Jul 16th 2008 6:48PM]

thank you captain obvious

[fred @ Jul 16th 2008 6:50PM]

Is this guy the new clak?

[Evan @ Jul 16th 2008 6:51PM]

*facepalm

[wordtoyourmother @ Jul 17th 2008 1:34AM]

wasn't this rumoured and fcc'd before the iphone/ipod touch?

[Panathas17 @ Jul 17th 2008 6:28AM]

Hasn't Apple already released the iPod touch / iPhone in the States?

[BrianB @ Jul 16th 2008 6:42PM]

This is pretty ironic:

Emgeton clones and betters the Meizu M8 and will come in Q3:

http://www.pmptoday.com/2008/07/16/emgeton-mini-one-gives-meizu-a-taste-of-its-own-medicine/

Windows Mobile 6, 3MP camera, Bluetooth, VGA TOUCH SCREEN.

[justin @ Jul 16th 2008 6:42PM]

...and somehow it's STILL more appealing than the Dare.

[justin @ Jul 16th 2008 6:43PM]

Captain Obvious saves the day!

[1234321 @ Jul 16th 2008 6:46PM]

did you just call yourself Captain Obvious?

[1234321 @ Jul 16th 2008 6:45PM]

128MB of RAM is fine, just add a good CPU and any GPU and I'll be fine
they coulda at least put 256MB ROM in case, but I dont care for 8GB built in if it offers a mini/micro/SDHC slot

[AlphaTeam @ Jul 16th 2008 6:45PM]

This really looks an iPod touch... I hope it doesn't have a glossy aluminum back... *yikes*

[helloUser @ Jul 16th 2008 6:46PM]

I thought this stupid product was just a rumor/vaporware?

Until I see anyone being able to buy that thing, is the day I'll care about meizu 'm8'

[fred @ Jul 16th 2008 6:52PM]

"I thought this stupid product was just a rumor/vaporware?"

Obviously it's not, so why not just see how well it works before passing judgment?

[broli @ Jul 16th 2008 6:57PM]

Stupid? Are we now starting to associate human traits with electronics. How stupid of you.

[grull27 @ Jul 16th 2008 6:50PM]

The iPod Touch phone! I've been looking for it. D:

[Almighty- @ Jul 16th 2008 6:59PM]

Ye, cuz I don't like the silver border at the iphone! The ipod Touch has a nicer design, kept in dark!

[jperry2010 @ Jul 16th 2008 7:19PM]

Alright...this may have been asked before...so I apologize in advance if it has, but...

Is it pronounced "M-8" or "mate"?

[ddub @ Jul 16th 2008 8:14PM]

I'm not sure, I think you should ask J. Wong himself.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jul 16th 2008 7:20PM]

Another GUI change? Who did they rip this one of from?

[Tweezers Hurt @ Jul 16th 2008 7:45PM]

Give it up already - the problem isn't with the manufacturers ripping off the iPhone - but instead the low class low end chinamen(women) who wants the best but can't afford to pay for it - but still must have it. This creates a market for these bootleg devices that are nothing but un-recyclable pieces of crap ready to kill our precious earth.

It's not the companies fault - but the mentality of chinese people - get rich fast, make a buck, who cares if it kills off the environment, who cares if it is a rip off of someone else's hard work. I just need to make a buck here and if it hurts others, so be it.

china is a fast growing economical powerhouse - ready to surpass everyone else - but at the expense of everything evil you can imagine. I cannot wait until their unique skyskrapers pummel to the ground because of cheap materials used and the rate at which they are expanding only contributes to more global pollution - who cares if we (the chinese) kill the earth - so what if we make a buck!

If you want your device to not be counterfeited, DO NOT HAVE YOUR PRODUCT MADE IN CHINA PERIOD. They (chinese) will steal your design process, manufacturing process, and then their govt. will throw you out.

Why do you think iPhone will be released in 70 countries by year end but not one will be in China? No xbox360 in china. No ps3 in china. No Wii in china. Keep your products/designs safe - do not make it in china. Problem solved!

[Tyson @ Jul 16th 2008 7:50PM]

why bother now?

[Paul Dullford @ Jul 16th 2008 7:59PM]

And now we wait for the Meizu M8 clones to appear.

[KEROLiUKAS @ Jul 16th 2008 8:08PM]

Wow pollution? you do realize USA makes more pollution than the rest of the world combined...You're ignorant person..

[Jeebus @ Jul 18th 2008 12:43PM]

References please.

(Don't bother, you won't find any)

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jul 16th 2008 8:09PM]

Correct me if I'm wrong but... the iPhone is made in China, ALL computers are made in China (maybe minus a few Fujis which are made partly in Japan), the PS3 is made in China,, the 360 is made in China, the Wii is made in China...

[SonOfWatt @ Jul 16th 2008 8:17PM]

$320 is a great price for a phone with these specs.
If the touch screen is good, this will make a great Android device!

[Mikey @ Jul 16th 2008 8:16PM]

KEROLiUKAS, yes the U.S. pollutes a lot, but we don't have such bad air quality that athletes decide to boycott the Olympics because they can't breathe at them and are worried their lungs will be damaged. China is a way worse polluter than the U.S. (I'm sure we're worse per capita, but they have more than 5 times more people, so they are still way worse).

If you are going to criticize Tweezers for anything, how about for the use of the incredibly PC term "chinamen," or for the reason that LaFramboise pointed out.

[Gurulism @ Jul 16th 2008 8:18PM]

You can try to live without Chinese goods.

[ChineseRn!groesOfAsia @ Jul 16th 2008 8:20PM]

Yum, spam! [e-mail]

[Gurulism @ Jul 16th 2008 8:24PM]

Time is needed to catch up with and finally get over these countries.

[Darren @ Jul 16th 2008 8:48PM]

So I guess this is the iPhone for people who could never bring themselves to buy an Apple project.

[Ilya Grabylnikov @ Jul 16th 2008 9:51PM]

simply a knock-off piece of crap without proper warranty and absolutely no buyer's confidence that this shit wont fall apart in a week or short-circuit from the low quality sweat-shop electronics.

[China Owen @ Jul 17th 2008 5:27AM]

Hey man! all the comment you said in this post are bullshit!! I think you are just a lousy fly. i do not know why you calumny china on purpose...is there any chinese hurt your flimsy heart or raped your mom? you are so lousy!!!

[China Owen @ Jul 17th 2008 5:22AM]

Hey man! all the comment you said in this post are shit!! I think you are just a lousy fly. i do not know why you calumny china on purpose...is there any chinese hurt your flimsy heart or raped your mom? you are so lousy!!!

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jul 16th 2008 10:07PM]

I like the vinyl record touch for playing mp3 files. They should add in a tone arm that approximates when the record is going to finish. A nice retro look.

The Meizu is done for. It will never be released and that's that. Right now it's cost is too high unless it will be subsidized for a cheaper price.

[Charles @ Jul 17th 2008 3:07PM]

I agree, that was the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture. Having an image of a spinning vinyl record with the tone arm moving across to indicate the time remaining on the "record" would do my old album loving soul good and be too cool for school (to date myself even further). Takes me back to the 70's and 80's when I literally had hundreds upon hundreds of treasured and beloved records proudly stacked in apple crate boxes next to my stereo/turntable with behemoth speakers. Alphabetically, or course, although by genre in some cases, like soundtracks. An mp3 player skin like this would certainly make as much sense as some of the other goofy stuff out there. Although to be honest, how much time to you actually spend staring at the screen of your phone/DAP while it plays? In this case, maybe more!...

[victorfang @ Jul 16th 2008 10:17PM]

@ChineseRn!groesOfAsia

Dude, what's the problem with you? Engadeget is a nice place for people to discuss the newest gadget. You always attack other country with your shameless political speech. You really ruined this community.

Does Korean people always like this? Go on street as a living style?
Anti-American beef import for no-reason? Tourist was killed by North Korea, but dare to say one word? : )

[victorfang @ Jul 16th 2008 10:14PM]

@ChineseRn!groesOfAsia

Dude, what's the problem with you? Engadeget is a nice place for people to discuss the newest gadget. You always attack other country with your shameless political speech. You really ruined this community.

Does Korean people always like this? Go on street as a living style?
Anti-American beef import for no-reason? Tourist was killed by North Korea, but dare to say one word? : )